What is life without bookshelves?!
@wherearethebooks.bsky.social
Promoting #OpenScience practises (in the Arab States) & #LordByron (everywhere else). Ravenous bibliophage lurking in the desert (with cats)
Chief Academic Officer, Knowledge E | Director, The Byron Society | Director, Forum for Open Research | BARS Exec
Chief Academic Officer, Knowledge E | Director, The Byron Society | Director, Forum for Open Research | BARS Exec
The newest member of my family is so fricking adorable. It's hard to believe he'll be 200 pounds and the size of a large coffee table one day...
Meet Carthage, my baby Sulcata tortoise, having a little breakfast treat
Meet Carthage, my baby Sulcata tortoise, having a little breakfast treat
November 21, 2025 at 9:28 AM
The newest member of my family is so fricking adorable. It's hard to believe he'll be 200 pounds and the size of a large coffee table one day...
Meet Carthage, my baby Sulcata tortoise, having a little breakfast treat
Meet Carthage, my baby Sulcata tortoise, having a little breakfast treat
Looking at antiques and just noticed the dealer's definition of "Regency"! 1800 to 1950 seems a **little** long...
May 24, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Looking at antiques and just noticed the dealer's definition of "Regency"! 1800 to 1950 seems a **little** long...
Kickstarting this year's #Byron conference at Newstead Abbey with a tour of All Saints church at Annesley (an estate with close ties with the Byron family, and home of his first "crush" Mary Chaworth)
April 25, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Kickstarting this year's #Byron conference at Newstead Abbey with a tour of All Saints church at Annesley (an estate with close ties with the Byron family, and home of his first "crush" Mary Chaworth)
It's always nice when planning our @forumforopen.bsky.social conference to start exploring venues - much fun yesterday visiting our Host Partner American University of Sharjah, and checking out their gorgeous conference facilities...
#OpenScience
#OpenScience
April 23, 2025 at 4:57 AM
It's always nice when planning our @forumforopen.bsky.social conference to start exploring venues - much fun yesterday visiting our Host Partner American University of Sharjah, and checking out their gorgeous conference facilities...
#OpenScience
#OpenScience
I must be nearing middle age: sitting in the garden with a coffee, reading "House & Garden" - and making NOTES!
How/when did I become so staid?!
How/when did I become so staid?!
April 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
I must be nearing middle age: sitting in the garden with a coffee, reading "House & Garden" - and making NOTES!
How/when did I become so staid?!
How/when did I become so staid?!
And today I discussed how to identify & avoid #PredatoryConferences...
With more predatory events than real ones + over 1.2mn researchers affected every year, its important for the academic community to recognise the threat!
Don't let predators steal your money, your research, or your reputation!
With more predatory events than real ones + over 1.2mn researchers affected every year, its important for the academic community to recognise the threat!
Don't let predators steal your money, your research, or your reputation!
April 17, 2025 at 12:02 PM
And today I discussed how to identify & avoid #PredatoryConferences...
With more predatory events than real ones + over 1.2mn researchers affected every year, its important for the academic community to recognise the threat!
Don't let predators steal your money, your research, or your reputation!
With more predatory events than real ones + over 1.2mn researchers affected every year, its important for the academic community to recognise the threat!
Don't let predators steal your money, your research, or your reputation!
#ResearchIntegrity is an increasingly important topic for academics everywhere - and it was a pleasure to be invited to deliver a lecture series on the topic at the King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh. Today we tackled "publishing with integrity".
#AI #PredatoryJournals #PaperMills
#AI #PredatoryJournals #PaperMills
April 16, 2025 at 1:46 PM
#ResearchIntegrity is an increasingly important topic for academics everywhere - and it was a pleasure to be invited to deliver a lecture series on the topic at the King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh. Today we tackled "publishing with integrity".
#AI #PredatoryJournals #PaperMills
#AI #PredatoryJournals #PaperMills
I'd love to say I hiked 22k up arid mountain terrain in 45°C to reach the top and enjoy my beer...
I certainly **meant** to do this...
But - it is rather warm and I really wanted that beer...
I certainly **meant** to do this...
But - it is rather warm and I really wanted that beer...
April 12, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I'd love to say I hiked 22k up arid mountain terrain in 45°C to reach the top and enjoy my beer...
I certainly **meant** to do this...
But - it is rather warm and I really wanted that beer...
I certainly **meant** to do this...
But - it is rather warm and I really wanted that beer...
I can think of worse places to sit and read as the sun rises...
March 31, 2025 at 5:37 AM
I can think of worse places to sit and read as the sun rises...
Everything is going to s**t in the world. But I now have a 10 hour flight to South Africa. That's 10 whole hours with this delicious treat, and no Internet so no doom scrolling and existential horror to interrupt me...
March 29, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Everything is going to s**t in the world. But I now have a 10 hour flight to South Africa. That's 10 whole hours with this delicious treat, and no Internet so no doom scrolling and existential horror to interrupt me...
My parents' cat (Ozymandius) has really taken to their new puppy (Mungo) and the photos... 🥰
January 31, 2025 at 3:00 AM
My parents' cat (Ozymandius) has really taken to their new puppy (Mungo) and the photos... 🥰
Always sad when my annual January pilgrimage to Venice ends - especially as this time the small human came with me to enjoy the #Byron festivities and meet my fabulous fellow Byronists. And Venice really pulled out all the stops weather-wise 🥰
January 19, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Always sad when my annual January pilgrimage to Venice ends - especially as this time the small human came with me to enjoy the #Byron festivities and meet my fabulous fellow Byronists. And Venice really pulled out all the stops weather-wise 🥰
Occasionally we get to announce fantastic #Byron news... thanks to generous support from The National Lottery Fund, Heritage London, and all our members and supporters across the world - we've raised enough money to restore and renovate the Byron Statue!
January 14, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Occasionally we get to announce fantastic #Byron news... thanks to generous support from The National Lottery Fund, Heritage London, and all our members and supporters across the world - we've raised enough money to restore and renovate the Byron Statue!
I love how plump and happy and relaxed all the stray cats are in Rabat. They clearly OWN the city
November 29, 2024 at 9:19 AM
I love how plump and happy and relaxed all the stray cats are in Rabat. They clearly OWN the city
Waking up to *more* news of UK #HigherEd sufferings, the contrast with the #ArabWorld is astounding. Its definitely bittersweet to be discussing strategies for inclusive and accessible eduction today in Morocco - but comforting that *some* policymakers care about protecting and advancing eduction!
November 29, 2024 at 7:46 AM
Waking up to *more* news of UK #HigherEd sufferings, the contrast with the #ArabWorld is astounding. Its definitely bittersweet to be discussing strategies for inclusive and accessible eduction today in Morocco - but comforting that *some* policymakers care about protecting and advancing eduction!
Attending the UNESCO - ALECSO symposium on open science in Morocco today. A fantastic range of speakers and ideas, but it also really highlights a clear need for more grassroots capacity building and multilateral collaboration to success advance #OpenScience
November 28, 2024 at 11:52 AM
Attending the UNESCO - ALECSO symposium on open science in Morocco today. A fantastic range of speakers and ideas, but it also really highlights a clear need for more grassroots capacity building and multilateral collaboration to success advance #OpenScience
Been quiet here of late, avoiding social media platforms.
But time to "get back in the saddle" - and when better than on my 39th birthday... especially as i am seemingly now so old and frail it apparently required a collaborative effort to help me unwrap my birthday present
But time to "get back in the saddle" - and when better than on my 39th birthday... especially as i am seemingly now so old and frail it apparently required a collaborative effort to help me unwrap my birthday present
November 19, 2024 at 1:12 PM
Been quiet here of late, avoiding social media platforms.
But time to "get back in the saddle" - and when better than on my 39th birthday... especially as i am seemingly now so old and frail it apparently required a collaborative effort to help me unwrap my birthday present
But time to "get back in the saddle" - and when better than on my 39th birthday... especially as i am seemingly now so old and frail it apparently required a collaborative effort to help me unwrap my birthday present
Phew, all done without obvious f***-ups (or audible cursing 😉)
August 8, 2024 at 7:54 AM
Phew, all done without obvious f***-ups (or audible cursing 😉)
My bengal brings so many in at night, I now keep an emergency terrarium and lizard snacks in the bathroom for rescue and overnight recuperation...
August 4, 2024 at 4:21 AM
My bengal brings so many in at night, I now keep an emergency terrarium and lizard snacks in the bathroom for rescue and overnight recuperation...
Why helloooo well-deserved Friday night cocktail
August 2, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Why helloooo well-deserved Friday night cocktail
Flight about to take off for Glasgow (thank god for direct flights from Dubai...) see you all at @BARS_official 2024 Conference!!
(If anyone us around for a 🍺 or a ☕️ today/tomorrow let me know!)
(If anyone us around for a 🍺 or a ☕️ today/tomorrow let me know!)
July 21, 2024 at 3:43 AM
Flight about to take off for Glasgow (thank god for direct flights from Dubai...) see you all at @BARS_official 2024 Conference!!
(If anyone us around for a 🍺 or a ☕️ today/tomorrow let me know!)
(If anyone us around for a 🍺 or a ☕️ today/tomorrow let me know!)
The "where's my breakfast" brigade out in full force this morning!
March 2, 2024 at 2:51 AM
The "where's my breakfast" brigade out in full force this morning!
In yet another installment of the "I'm a terrible mother who forgets school fancy dress days" - today is national dress day...
.... I give you a Morris Dancer - panic-made from leftover Christmas ribbon and tiny bells stolen from inside the cat's toys*
*yes she is now pissed
.... I give you a Morris Dancer - panic-made from leftover Christmas ribbon and tiny bells stolen from inside the cat's toys*
*yes she is now pissed
February 28, 2024 at 4:29 AM
In yet another installment of the "I'm a terrible mother who forgets school fancy dress days" - today is national dress day...
.... I give you a Morris Dancer - panic-made from leftover Christmas ribbon and tiny bells stolen from inside the cat's toys*
*yes she is now pissed
.... I give you a Morris Dancer - panic-made from leftover Christmas ribbon and tiny bells stolen from inside the cat's toys*
*yes she is now pissed
Also - as ever on #Byron's birthday - a chance to recall some of his witticisms on aging (something I - as I near my 40th year - can definitely empathise with!)
bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=3493
bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=3493
January 22, 2024 at 7:39 AM
Also - as ever on #Byron's birthday - a chance to recall some of his witticisms on aging (something I - as I near my 40th year - can definitely empathise with!)
bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=3493
bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=3493